PhD, MPhil, MSc
Associate Professor
Contact details
Tel 64 4 806 1753
Email patries.herst@otago.ac.nz
Dr Herst has been employed by the University of Otago since 2001 and divides her time between undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, preclinical and clinical research. She has been a committee member of the Health and Disability Ethics Committee (HDEC) since 2012.
Research interests and activities
Preclinical Research
Dr Herst has been a visiting scientist at the Malaghan Institute since completion of her PhD in 2006. There, she conducts research into drug resistance of highly aggressive cancer cells in collaboration with Professor Mike Berridge. Her most recent research, in close collaboration with Dr McConnell at the University of Victoria, Wellington, focuses on radiosensitization of glioblastoma multiforme in vitro and in an orthotopic intracranial mouse glioma model.
Clinical Research
Dr Herst has conducted randomized controlled clinical trials in NZ hospitals that investigate management of radiation-induced side effects since 2008. To date 5 trials (3 skin trials, one cystitis trial and one oral mucositis trial) have been completed, analysed and published. A sixth trial on management of skin reactions in head and neck patients is currently recruiting in Christchurch and Dunedin.
This work was presented to the Otago Spotlight Series: Cancer Research symposium and is part of Cancer Research at Otago working to advance the prevention, detection and management of cancer in New Zealand, and beyond.
Publications
Herst, P. M., Bennett, N. C., Sutherland, A. E., Peszynski, R. I., Paterson, D. B., & Jasperse, M. L. (2014). Prophylactic use of Mepitel Film prevents radiation-induced moist desquamation in an intra-patient randomised controlled clinical trial of 78 breast cancer patients. Radiotherapy & Oncology, 110(1), 137-143. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2014.01.005
Grasso, C., Fabre, M.-S., Collis, S. V., Castro, M. L., Field, C. S., Schleich, N., McConnell, M. J., & Herst, P. M. (2014). Pharmacological doses of daily ascorbate protect tumors from radiation damage after a single dose of radiation in an intracranial mouse glioma model. Frontiers in Oncology, 4, 356. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00356
Castro, M. L., McConnell, M. J., & Herst, P. M. (2014). Radio-sensitisation by pharmacological ascorbate in glioblastoma multiforme cells, human glial cells, and HUVECs depends on their antioxidant and DNA repair capabilities and is not cancer specific. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 74, 200-209. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.06.022
Herst, P. M., Broadley, K. W. R., Harper, J. L., & McConnell, M. J. (2012). Pharmacological concentrations of ascorbate radiosensitize glioblastoma multiforme primary cells by increasing oxidative DNA damage and inhibiting G2/M arrest. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 52(8), 1486-1493. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.01.021
Journal - Research Article
Castro, M. L., McConnell, M. J., & Herst, P. M. (2014). Radio-sensitisation by pharmacological ascorbate in glioblastoma multiforme cells, human glial cells, and HUVECs depends on their antioxidant and DNA repair capabilities and is not cancer specific. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 74, 200-209. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.06.022
Herst, P. M., Bennett, N. C., Sutherland, A. E., Peszynski, R. I., Paterson, D. B., & Jasperse, M. L. (2014). Prophylactic use of Mepitel Film prevents radiation-induced moist desquamation in an intra-patient randomised controlled clinical trial of 78 breast cancer patients. Radiotherapy & Oncology, 110(1), 137-143. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2014.01.005
Grasso, C., Fabre, M.-S., Collis, S. V., Castro, M. L., Field, C. S., Schleich, N., McConnell, M. J., & Herst, P. M. (2014). Pharmacological doses of daily ascorbate protect tumors from radiation damage after a single dose of radiation in an intracranial mouse glioma model. Frontiers in Oncology, 4, 356. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00356
Herst, P. M., Broadley, K. W. R., Harper, J. L., & McConnell, M. J. (2012). Pharmacological concentrations of ascorbate radiosensitize glioblastoma multiforme primary cells by increasing oxidative DNA damage and inhibiting G2/M arrest. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 52(8), 1486-1493. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.01.021
